Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

NOTE 4 — EARNINGS PER SHARE

We compute basic earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. We compute diluted earnings per share using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards and potential shares, computed using the treasury stock method.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts):


	2018		2017
Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc.	$	1,144	$	659

Weighted average common shares outstanding		350.850		370.289
Effect of dilutive incremental shares		8.899		9.691

Shares used for diluted earnings per share		359.749		379.980

Earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share	$	3.26	$	1.78
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.18	$	1.74